Meta: Fandom is Part of My Life, Too!

From the moment I stumbled across a Charmed website while looking for episode summaries back in 2001, Fandom has been a part of my life.

Once I didn't know what being fannish was. Sure, I had attempted to watch every episode of Dr Who that aired. Sure, I had videotaped a show in order to rewatch and rewatch it *cough*Red Dwarf*cough*... but once I realised that people could spend so much of their time doing all sorts of fannish stuff, I wanted to spend as much time as possible catching up with said stuff. I wanted to DO said stuff. I spent a lot of time at buffyguide.com, discovered fanfiction.net, and my work productivity nose-dived. It hasn't really gotten better.

On the other hand, my Fandom life has. After being too scared and overwhelmed to get into Buffy fandom, after causing a (admittedly minor) kerfuffle amongst people writing Labyrinth fanfic, I stumbled across due South and found a fannish home.

Meanwhile work continued, but the gnawing feeling of "what are you going to do with your life/career/etc" could be eased by reading the latest fanfic, or taking up the latest ds_flashfiction challenge. Home life continued, and the rough patches of cohabitation could be soothed by watching a couple of episodes of a beloved show. Printouts of fanfic filled a couple of suspension files at the back of my filing cabinet, and an archive box in the back of my wardrobe. The cabinet in the lounge room filled up with dvds of shows and movies my flist were watching, and Canadian movies and tv shows began to jostle their way in amongst the sci-fi, BBC shows and Australian movies.

And slowly, subtle changes took place in the way I thought about life, the universe and everything.

Having a couple of kids in the last few years has reduced the number of hours I have available to watch the lastest shows garnering Fandom's interest, or to scroll through my friends' list; and I don't seem to have much of a fic-writing brain at the moment. However, I still cling to the special feeling that Fandom gives me, that space of my own which is just about me liking what I like.

Fandom is a wonderful thing, isn't it? That's one thing that's so great about the internet, it lets you connect and share with so many people you usually would never know like the same things you do.

And great point about the DS fandom - it really is the most open, friendly and most giving fandom I have come across - I wonder if part of the reason is that it's an older show and the Ray Wars happened and are behind everyone (I came in waaaaay later and only read about it). So it's blissfully free of any major wanking.

'And great point about the DS fandom - it really is the most open, friendly and most giving fandom I have come across - I wonder if part of the reason is that it's an older show and the Ray Wars happened and are behind everyone (I came in waaaaay later and only read about it). So it's blissfully free of any major wanking.'I feel the same. I know that Ray Wars would push out of fandom. I can't tell you how many fandoms I've left once the character bahsing/ship wars start.

I must be lucky since I managed to avoid fandoms that have blatant character bashing. The few times it happened in fandoms I was part of, it tended to be a somewhat whacky minority or I was part of the major 'ship, so there were enough places to retreat to without having to deal with the nuts.

Not sure how I would have dealt with the Ray Wars. I started as a huge RayK fan and only saw the first two seasons after seeing S3 and 4, though RayV really grew on me and I ended up liking him more than I expected to. I guess live and let live is my motto, unless someone gets hurt.

'I started as a huge RayK fan and only saw the first two seasons after seeing S3 and 4, though RayV really grew on me and I ended up liking him more than I expected to.'I hear that. I like both Rays and I think it's because they're two completely different characters (i.e. RayK wasn't just a blond version of RayV) who have completely different dynamics with Fraser. Heck, I could do an entire meta on how different they are.

'I guess live and let live is my motto, unless someone gets hurt.'Exactly.

I like both Rays and I think it's because they're two completely different characters (i.e. RayK wasn't just a blond version of RayV)

Amen! Times a gabillion! That's why the ridiculous (but awesomely executed) switch in Burning Down the House worked for me and S3/4 were so enjoyable to watch. The dynamic was soooo different, while still maintaining the Canadian vs American theme (in its ridiculous interpretation) and the friendship between Fraser and the Rays. It's so tough to put into words, but it's almost like they're two different shows while, at the same time, it's still the same show.

Which is why: Heck, I could do an entire meta on how different they are. PLEASE DO!I've been trying to put this into words for myself and when talking to friends, but it's SO tough! I would love to read your thoughts on it!

'That's why the ridiculous (but awesomely executed) switch in Burning Down the House worked for me and S3/4 were so enjoyable to watch.'Same here.

'It's so tough to put into words, but it's almost like they're two different shows while, at the same time, it's still the same show.'That it is, I think that's why I've seen people call season 3/4 a spin off when it's the same show.

'I would love to read your thoughts on it!'I just might there's so much to work wit.

'It is different when it comes to writing and characters, but at heart, it's still DS.'That's true. I've always thought that while Paul Haggis leaned more towards the drama side of dramatic comedy Paul Gross leaned more towards the comedy side.

'Oh, please do! ;) How can I bribe you?'Haha... sure, I accept cookies and ponies.

I've always thought that while Paul Haggis leaned more towards the drama side of dramatic comedy Paul Gross leaned more towards the comedy side.

Yes, exactly! I love the darker Fraser from the earlier seasons as he is a truly tragic character and that comes through more often in S1 and 2. I wub me some angst! S3 and 4 do seem to reflect PG's somewhat whacky sense of humor more than earlier eps, and I do love that as well, but sometimes I do miss the more angsty Fraser. Plus I think dark!Fraser would have been a great match for sometimes dark!RayK (like in Eclipse or The Ladies' Man).

And sending you a box of yummy cookies on the back of a cute pony. Will that help?

And I know we talked about the earlier seasons vs the later ones and the different character dynamics. The more I see of RayV, the more I like him! Deep down, he's such a softie. It's just not as obvious as with RayK, I think.